European Commission

Empowering cultural and creative sectors through funding and opportunities across Europe.

The European Heritage Label enhances cultural heritage visibility and supports site recognition across Europe.

Supports excellence and raises awareness of European culture through various initiatives.

Creative Europe Desks enable organizations to access support and funding opportunities across Europe.

Access EU Funding Opportunities for the Cultural and Creative Sectors.

Mobilizes diverse funding sources and simplifies access to enhance cultural investment across Europe.

Guides EU policy for vibrant cultural and creative sectors.

Programs and instruments that provide grants, co‑financing, mobility grants and prize‑based funding to cultural and audiovisual projects and organisations.

Products: Creative Europe programme, CulturEU Funding Guide, Creative Europe Desks, European Union prizes and initiatives, Investment in culture

Services and funding that enable international collaboration, partner matchmaking, artist mobility schemes and transnational project delivery.

Products: Creative Europe Desks, Creative Europe programme, European Union prizes and initiatives

Frameworks and coordinated policy actions that set strategic priorities, flagship actions and guidelines for investment and regulatory support of the cultural sector.

Products: Culture Compass for Europe, Investment in culture

Recognition, labelling and outreach activities that increase visibility, networking and capacity of sites of European cultural significance.

Products: European Heritage Label, European Union prizes and initiatives

Activities that finance, develop and sustain cross‑sector platforms, networks, training and advisory support to strengthen organisational capacity.

Products: Creative Europe programme, Creative Europe Desks, European Heritage Label, CulturEU Funding Guide

Creative Europe programme

The Creative Europe programme supports culture and audiovisual sectors across Europe. It comprises the Creative Europe CULTURE strand, Creative Europe MEDIA, and a Cross-sectoral strand. It funds cross-border cooperation, networking, and co-financing of platforms and networks to strengthen the cultural and creative sectors.

• Diverse Funding For Cultural Activities
  This ensures comprehensive support across various cultural and audiovisual sectors, addressing different needs while enhancing creativity and cultural expression.
• Enhances Artistic Travel
  Enables artists and cultural professionals to explore international collaborations and enrich their work through travel.
• Offers Financial Support
  Facilitates access to funding for cultural professionals to engage in meaningful exchanges and residence programs.
• Facilitate International Collaboration
  This feature promotes partnerships and exchanges among various cultural entities, contributing to diversity and innovation in Europe.
• Promotes Creative Partnerships
  Fosters partnerships between cultural sectors to cultivate cross-border artistic projects and initiatives.
• Enable Sustainability Of Networks
  By providing financial support, the programme enhances the capacity and endurance of cultural platforms and networks, fostering collaboration among stakeholders.
• Broadens Participation
  Encourages diverse artistic expression by encompassing multiple cultural sectors within the program.
• Encourage Cultural Mobility
  Enhancing opportunities for cultural exchange, this feature allows artists to explore new environments and collaborate on innovative projects.
• Expand Financial Access
  By raising the funding ceiling, this feature enables more ambitious projects, supporting larger-scale cultural initiatives.

European Heritage Label

The European Heritage Label recognizes sites of European cultural significance. The European Heritage Label Bureau supports national coordinators and EHL sites, offering networking, collaboration and training opportunities as well as outreach and visibility development services.

• Enhance Networking Opportunities
  The Bureau facilitates connections among national coordinators and EHL sites, ensuring effective collaboration and resource sharing.
• Recognize European Heritage
  The label identifies sites of importance across Europe, celebrating diverse cultural histories that contribute to a shared European identity.
• Promote Cultural Significance
  The label elevates the status of designated sites, attracting greater attention from tourists and local communities.
• Streamline Application Process
  Designated coordinators simplify the application process for sites seeking EHL recognition, providing guidance and support.

European Union prizes and initiatives

The EU prizes and initiatives are actions designed to reward achievement, highlight excellence, and raise awareness of Europe’s culture and heritage across its policies and sectors.

• Recognizes Outstanding Achievements
  Highlights significant contributions and innovation in the cultural sector, inspiring others.
• Enhances Cultural Visibility
  Promotes awareness and appreciation of European cultural diversity and heritage across audiences.
• Engages Diverse Stakeholders
  Facilitates collaboration among various sectors and stakeholders in Europe.
• Simplifies Access to Funding
  Helps stakeholders identify suitable funding sources for their cultural initiatives easily.
• Facilitates Artist Mobility
  Provides resources for artists to travel and collaborate internationally, enhancing cultural exchange.

Creative Europe Desks

Creative Europe Desks provide questions and assistance related to the programme and help researching calls, with desks in every participating country to support cross-border cooperation.

• Facilitate National Access
  Each desk serves as a local entry point, ensuring that organizations can receive tailored assistance pertinent to their country's context.
• Enhance International Partnerships
  Desks promote partnerships that enable cultural and creative organizations to work together across borders, thereby enhancing project impact.
• Access Funding Information
  Stay informed about funding opportunities and application processes through regular updates and support from desks.
• Unlock New Resources
  Cooperation between desks and national coordinators enhances resource availability and networking opportunities for cultural sites.

CulturEU Funding Guide

The CulturEU funding guide provides a comprehensive overview of EU funding opportunities for the cultural and creative sectors, designed to help applicants navigate and access different funding streams effectively.

• Presents EU Funding Opportunities
  Offers a structured display of available funding options, making it easier for stakeholders in cultural sectors to identify suitable financial resources for their projects.
• Aligns Funding With Culture Compass Framework
  The guide ensures that funding opportunities are in harmony with the objectives outlined in the Culture Compass, promoting strategic alignment in cultural policy.
• Facilitates Targeted Funding Discovery
  The interactive aspect of the guide personalizes the funding search experience, allowing users to quickly find relevant grants based on their specific organizational needs.
• Showcases Successful Funding Applications
  By providing real-world examples of successful projects, the guide helps potential applicants understand best practices and how to effectively pitch their projects for funding.
• Helps Users Estimate Project Budgets
  The guide includes budgeting tools that assist users in formulating financial plans that align with available funding amounts.

Investment in culture

Investment in culture is the Culture Compass pillar that mobilizes existing and forthcoming funding at every level, and aims to simplify access to EU funding for culture while attracting private investment and philanthropy.

• Simplifies EU Funding Access
  Streamlines the process for cultural entities to secure EU funding, making cultural projects more viable and impactful.
• Mobilizes Funding Across Levels
  Enhances strategic funding mobilization by engaging multiple funding sources, ensuring deeper investments in culture.
• Attracts Private Investment
  Utilizes innovative strategies to draw private sector investments and philanthropic contributions, vital for cultural growth and sustainability.
• Creates Investment Guidelines
  Provides frameworks for effective investment in cultural sectors, encouraging informed decision-making among stakeholders.

Culture Compass for Europe

Culture Compass for Europe is a policy framework that establishes a vision and flagship actions to guide EU policy making for culture and the creative sectors, aiming to address challenges and chart a new course for Europe’s cultural and creative ecosystems.

• Drives Strategic Actions
  Outlines concrete actions to navigate key challenges faced in the cultural and creative sectors.
• Enhances Policy Cooperation
  Facilitates strong political commitment and ensures collaborative efforts among EU entities and cultural representatives.
• Mobilizes Funding Efficiently
  Supports systematic mobilization of existing and forthcoming funding instruments at various levels to invest in culture.